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Bio

Sam completed his undergraduate- and Masters-level studies at Canterbury Christ Church University in 2011, where he studied with Roderick Watkins & Derek Hyde. Following a period of private study with Matthew King (Guildhall School of Music & Drama), Sam is currently studying at doctoral level with Mark Bowden at Royal Holloway, University of London.

In 2019 Sam participated in two orchestral composer schemes, given by Royal Northern Sinfonia & Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. 2017-18 saw a new work, stray, developed as part of Psappha’s ‘Composing for French Horn’ scheme, as well as the premiere of refraction, window, a miniature for low winds; near, a work for spatialised strings & accordion, formed part of the inaugural ‘Am Horizont’ concert in November 2017. Recent years have seen the emergence of a collaborative relationship with flautist & new music specialist Carla Rees – participation in the 2017 Rarescale Summer School was funded by a Rarescale bursary, and led to the composition of several, both, several, a work for eight flutes; in 2017 she gave the premiere of bourdon for solo bass flute.

Sam has taken part in a number of workshop sessions & summer schools. In 2016 Sam attended the Cheltenham Festival Composers’ Academy, resulting in the premiere of strange calligraphy, written for the Dr K Sextet. In 2013 a revised version of duo music was commissioned by New Dots, and soliloquy, etc., won the CoMA Summer School Call for Scores. 2012 saw the premiere of quartet at the ‘Forme Uniche’ project in Adelaide – a trip funded by PRS for Music & the Bliss Trust. Sam has also attended and/or audited workshops given by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Paul Patterson, Edwin Roxburgh, and Robert Saxton.

Equally rewarding have been his frequent collaborations with performers and arts organisations in Canterbury & more widely throughout Kent. Sam enjoys a close relationship with the players of the Leon String Quartet, a partnership which has resulted in three works: the first version of the string duet duo music, Belgrade (with the soprano Lucinda Drelaud), and cold light, the latter given its premiere in February 2016. His orchestral work Asyndesis was premiered by the Canterbury Christ Church University Symphony Orchestra in 2012, and Martin Outram of the Maggini Quartet gave the world premiere of songs at the university’s ‘Viola Day’ in 2015. Sam’s work has been presented at the Canterbury Festival, winning the Composers’ Competition in 2011, and has often formed part of events held by Free Range, a local avant-garde arts club.